Muscle disuse or immobilization will result in atrophy.
• In addition to muscle cross-sectional area, training can
result in substantially improved CNS control of muscle.
As a result, we see:
– Substantial initial gains in strength with training without a
concomitant increase in muscle cross-sectional area.
– Large increases in strength associated with the training exercise,
but much more moderate increases associated with activities not
involved in training, even when the same muscle is involved.
– Small increases in the strength of muscles not involved in a
training program.